Hyperinflation: Has Occurred in 28 Countries – Here’s Where, When, For How Long & By How Much

From the beginning of 1990 hyperinflation has occurred in 28 countries around the world on a total of 35 different occasions of which 17 occurred during 1992 alone. Currently, only Zimbabwe and Venezuela are plagued by hyperinflation.

Written by Lorimer Wilson, editor of munKNEE.com – “ The internet’s most unique site for financial articles! (Here’s why)”. Visit our Facebook page for all the latest – and best – financial articles!

When inflation exceeds 50% per month and lasts for at least 30 consecutive days it qualifies as hyperinflation.

For all the details check out The Hanke-Krus World Hyperinflation Table which contains all 58 episodes of hyperinflation over the past 100 years, including several which had previously gone unreported. The table indicates the start and end dates of each episode, identifies the month of peak hyperinflation, and signifies the currency that was in circulation, as well as the method used to calculate inflation rates.

Below is an amended and abbreviated Hanke-Krus World Hyperinflation Table

There is a difference between inflation and hyperinflation…and there is no gradual path from one to the other. To wind up with true hyperinflation, some very bad things have to happen. The government has to completely lose control… the populace has to completely lose faith in the system… or both at the same time. [Are we there yet? Let’s take a look.]

After seeing the latest string of events unfold right before our eyes, many are openly pondering whether we may see hyperinflation hit the U.S. shores. Rather than ponder Trump’s latest executive orders or over the top pronouncements, let us first look at what hyperinflation is and how it works.

I think that the U.S. has a roughly 0% probability of experiencing hyperinflation within the next 2 years. I also think, however, that the U.S. has a 100% probability of eventually experiencing hyperinflation. Below I explain why I think that is the case.

Hyperinflation is a process clearly defined in history and we are fully entrenched in that process. As much as we enjoy the idea of a free lunch there is no such thing so we will all, eventually, have to pay the piper. Let me explain.

Without pricing power or a large fiscal deficit and large foreign currency demands, it simply isn’t credible to claim that hyperinflation in the U.S. or the U.K. is in the offing now or anytime in the immediate future.

While I believe that the U.S. is heading towards a Weimar style hyperinflationary depression there are several developments that point to the possibility of another deflationary depression, similar to the 1930’s. Let me explain.

It is difficult to say exactly when hyperinflation will hit a currency. However, I am convinced that the danger level is so high for most fiat money that it is worthwhile for everyone to increase their understanding of hyperinflation. This is the first part of a Hyperinflation FAQ for frequently asked questions or objections about hyperinflation.

I have been reading a lot lately about the coming hyperinflation in America… [and while] I respect many of the writers [who express that opinion] I think they are jumping the gun. At this point none of the economic or political factors required to set off hyperinflation are present – and a careful analysis of theory, fact, and history leads me to conclude that inflation/stagflation is our future. It is quite a leap of fancy to say we are certain to have hyperinflation. Words: 2780

The Great War ended on November 11th, 1918, when the signed armistice came into effect, but the peace agreement lead to additional destruction – the destruction of wealth and savings – in the form of an hyperinflation event in Germany from 1921 and 1924 that caused millions of people to have their savings erased.

Hyperinflation is perhaps the darkest side of a government fiat money regime. Among mainstream economists, hyperinflation typically denotes a period of exceptionally strong increases in overall prices of goods and services, thus denoting a period of exceptionally strong erosion in the exchange value of money.

The Fed, together with other central banks from around the world, have created the perfect crescendo of worldwide credit bubbles and asset bubbles leading to the excesses and decadence which are the normal finale to a secular trend. They have totally destroyed all major world currencies and left the world with debts that cannot and will not be repaid with normal money. As such, there are only two alternative outcomes, debt default or hyperinflation. Both will have disastrous consequences for the world economy.

James Turk believes hyperinflation is ahead. Bob Prechter believes massive deflation is coming. An interesting discussion between the two takes place in this audio. Ultimately, both lead to Depression. Only the route taken differs, but that is important.

We are in a number of crises: the sovereign crisis, a banking crisis, an economic crisis and a social crisis. The first three crises together are guaranteed to bring down the world economy because they are not just in one country, they are worldwide….A social crisis will develop leading to even more social unrest. All of these factors are why this will ultimately lead to a hyperinflationary depression – the most serious depression the world has ever experienced – and why investors have to focus on protecting their wealth.

The U.S. economic and systemic-solvency crises of the last five years continue to deteriorate yet they remain just the precursors to the coming Great Collapse: a hyperinflationary great depression. The unfolding circumstance will encompass a complete loss in the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar; a collapse in the normal stream of U.S. commercial and economic activity; a collapse in the U.S. financial system, as we know it; and a likely realignment of the U.S. political environment.

Economists are telling central banks to accelerate monetary growth even faster…to avoid a bank balance sheet implosion with all the deflationary consequences that implies. [As such,] the prospects for 2012, and thereafter, are for Total Money Supply to continue its hyperbolic trend – and when such a trend becomes established it becomes almost impossible to stop because the whole debt-based economy and the banking system would collapse. [Let me explain further.]

Increases in spending and liabilities along with decreases in foreign lending equals a recipe for disaster, so where will the money come from? This is a job for the printing press. While we are certainly facing deflation in the near term and a very choppy market, the groundwork has been laid for hyperinflation, soaring interest rates and exploding gold and silver prices.

Pushing the big problems into the future appears to have been the working strategy for both the Fed and recent Administrations, yet the U.S. dollar and the budget deficit do matter, and the future is at hand. The day of ultimate financial reckoning has arrived, and it is playing out.

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